Madrid Challenge, Tokyo "Last Chance", Baku Won't Give Up

Madrid Bid Faces Municipal Challenge

Despite backing from major political parties, the Madrid bid for 2020 faces a resolution in the city council next week calling for an end to the campaign.

Luis de Velasco leader of UPyD says that his party is "against the holding of these Games, because of the current economic situation and the foreseeable future".

De Velasco says if the resolution fails, his party will take its plea to the national government. He says Spain should take heed of the choice made in February by Italian prime minister Mario Monti not to back a Rome bid for 2020.

An official with the ruling PP says that the bid cannot be withdrawn at this time.

"The scandal to Spain's image worldwide would be tremendous," said Iñigo Henríquez de Luna.

Madrid Mayor Ana Botella emphasized the bi-partisan backing the bid enjoys in the city and Spain during an interview with ATR last week at SportAccord in Quebec. She noted that both the current Minister for Sport – and his opposition predecessor – attended SportAccord to show their support for the bid.

According to the IOC report on the 2020 bids, Madrid enjoys 78 percent public support, highest among the 2020 bids.

Tokyo New Logo, Last Chance

The president of the Japanese Olympic Committee warns that Tokyo could not afford to lose another Olympic bid.

"It's our last chance," he said. "We'll win. We have to win. With the rotation of the Olympics it will be many years before Tokyo can go for it again," said Tsunekazu Takeda in Tokyo upon his return from SportAccord. Tokyo, Madrid and Istanbul were selected for the final stage of the 2020 race by the IOC Executive Board meeting in Quebec.

Tokyo Metropolitan Governor Shintaro Ishihara is quoted by AP as berating the citizens of the city for lagging support of the bid.

"When it comes to the Olympics, Tokyo citizens are spoiled," said Ishihara about the 47 percent level of support recorded by the IOC, lowest among the bids. Opponents of the bid registered at 23 percent, highest among the three bids.

Tokyo released its new bid logo on Tuesday.

The new logo adds "Candidate City" and the Olympic Rings to the logo used during its applicant city phase. It’s the first of the three bids to make the conversion.

Athletes from the Japanese Olympic Committee Elite Academy were at the launch.

"The IOC’s approval of our Candidate City Emblem is a symbolic milestone in our journey to host the 2020 Games and deliver an unforgettable Games plan fully integrated with Tokyo, its people and their future," Takeda said.

The first group of official Olympic bid partners was also announced today. They include sports goods production and sales company ASICS Corporation, sportswear production and sales company DESCENTE LTD., travel agency JTB Corp., and travel business Kinki Nippon Tourist Co., Ltd.

Baku Future Bid

Don’t say goodbye to Baku’s Olympic dreams just yet.

Konul Nurullaeva, CEO of Baku 2020 tells Russia’ RIA-Novosti the Azeri capital will bid for the Olympics in the future.

"The decision of the IOC is unfortunate for us," she said.

"But I can assure you that we will make conclusions and take into consideration the evaluations of IOC on our application for 2020 Games and the next time will be even more convincing.

"Our country is on the way to progress. We invest significant resources in services and infrastructure to improve the future of our nation and the region. We are very pleased that our efforts have been noted in the report to the IOC working group. "

Baku also bid for the 2016 Olympics when it too failed to make the IOC shortlist.

Written by Ed Hula, Ed Hula III and Hannah Reid.

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